The use of polymers, metals, ceramics and composite materials in the formulation of medical devices dates back centuries to when plant and animal skins were used for the amelioration of pathological conditions that resulted from mechanical, chemical or pathogenic trauma to tissues and organs. This text presents a detailed review of the current use of materials for the replacement of a range of body tissues, providing an analysis of the short and long term evaluation of each material. After an opening chapter investigating the scope and potential market for medical implants, each subsequent chapter focuses on a separate area of tissue replacement and discusses in depth materials currently used clinically as well as new materials now under development. Would dressings and skin replacement are reviewed followed by replacement skeletal tissues, biomaterials used in ophthalmology, cardiovascular implants, facial implants, dental implants and breast implants. The two primary pathways used to gain market approval in the USA, 510(k) and PMA, are also desceibed. Each of these tissue replacements are analyzed in terms of physico-chemical requirements and biocompatability assessment and the advantages and disadvantages of each material are summarized. The book is aimed at the reader who has an understanding of the basic concepts of polymers, metals and ceramics as well as biocompatability assessessment and will be of interest to all those in university biomaterials and biomechanics departments or medical schools, orthopaedic surgeons, industrial researchers and implant manufacturers.

Table of Contents:
1 Scope and markets for medical implants.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Markets for medical implants.- 1.3 Materials of construction.- 1.4 Pre-clinical and clinical biocompatibility evaluation.- 1.5 Biology of transplantation of tissue products matching.- 1.6 Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.- 1.7 Summary.- 2 Wound dressings and skin replacement.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Biochemistry of skin.- 2.3 Mechanical properties of skin.- 2.4 Repair of skin.- 2.5 Incidence of skin wounds.- 2.6 Wound dressings.- 2.7 Summary.- 3 Replacement of skeletal tissues.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Anatomy and physiology of tendons and ligaments.- 3.3 Biochemistry and biophysics.- 3.4 Mechanical properties of ligament.- 3.5 Repair of ligament.- 3.6 Clinical evaluation of ligament function.- 3.7 ACL reconstruction using biological and synthetic materials.- 3.8 Total joint replacement.- 3.9 Materials used in total knee replacement (TKR).- 3.10 Summary.- 4 Biomaterials used in ophthalmology.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Anatomy of the eye.- 4.3 Biochemistry of eye structures.- 4.4 Mechanical properties of ocular tissues.- 4.5 Corneal wound healing.- 4.6 Viscoelastic solutions.- 4.7 Intraocular lenses.- 4.8 Contact lens materials.- 4.9 Eye shields.- 4.10 Other ocular materials.- 4.11 Summary.- 5 Cardiovascular implants.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Physiology and anatomy of vessel wall and heart valve.- 5.3 Anatomy and physiology of blood components.- 5.4 Mechanical properties of aorta and valve.- 5.5 Repair of cardiovascular tissue.- 5.6 Pathophysiology of aortic and valvular diseases.- 5.7 Aorta and heart valve replacements.- 5.8 Cardiac valve replacements.- 5.9 Summary.- 6 Facial implants.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Biochemistry of facial tissues.- 6.3 Mechanical properties of facial tissues.-6.4 Repair of facial structures.- 6.5 Types of procedures performed in facial plastic surgery.- 6.6 Synthetic implant materials.- 6.7 Solid facial implants.- 6.8 Mesh materials.- 6.9 Summary.- 7 Dental implants.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Impression materials.- 7.3 Denture base resins.- 7.4 Restorative resins.- 7.5 Cements for restorations.- 7.6 Dental porcelains.- 7.7 Base metal alloys for dental castings.- 7.8 Other materials, collagen.- 7.9 Summary.- 8 Breast implants.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Anatomy and physiology of the breast.- 8.3 Psychology of breast augmentation.- 8.4 Types of breast implants.- 8.5 Complications associated with use of breast implants.- 8.6 Complications with poly(urethane)-covered implants.- 8.7 Implant placement.- 8.8 Current concerns.- 8.9 Summary.- 9 510 (k) and PMA regulatory filings in the US.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Components of a 510 (k) regulatory filing.- 9.3 Premarket approval (PMA) application.- References.